Out of 49 patients in the cod liver oil group, 19 (39 percent) were able to have cut their daily anti-inflammatory requirement by more than 30 percent at the nine-month point.
Out of 48 patients in the placebo group, just five (10 percent) were able to reduce their daily ant-inflammatory requirement by more than 30 percent.
No difference was observed in the clinical parameters of how the disease behaved during this time.
The authors said: "This study suggests that cod liver oil supplements containing n-3 fatty acids can be used as NSAID-sparing agents in RA patients."
The authors said the findings were important at a time when there were increasing concerns about adverse effects of using the anti-inflammatories.
Professor Jill Belch, from the Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee, said: "This study offers hope to many rheumatoid arthritis patients for whom cod liver oil supplements can offer a natural pain management treatment without the harmful side effects associated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
"It reinforces previous research that has shown cod liver oil, and its high content of omega-3 essential fatty acids, to have significant anti-inflammatory properties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis."
Source: Yorkshire Post. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. Powered by Yellowbrix.
